Management Blog

Predictions for Business in Wales 2012

Our Associate, Leadership and Management Wales  Director, Dr Barrie Kennard was among the experts invited by Wales’ national newspaper, The Western Mail, to predict what 2012 will bring for businesses in Wales.

Among his predictions was that 2012 will demonstrate just how important micro-businesses are to the stability of the Welsh economy. Also 2012 will bring a change in the style of management demonstrated by Welsh businesses. There is now a real need for business leaders to think more about the longer-term success of their businesses; taking decisive action now to safeguard their futures and plan for sustainable growth when the end of the recession does finally arrive as it surely will.

He also predicted 2012 will bring a change in the style of management demonstrated by Welsh businesses. He suggested this would be brought about with more of a focus on work-based learning.2012 we will see more work-based learning delivered via a blended-learning approach consisting of e-learning, coaching and mentoring, as well as taught courses and interventions.

David Russ, managing director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, and Iestyn Davies, head of external affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, also gave their points of view.

For more information on leadership and management development visit our website.

Event with Professor Sir Christopher Evans

Attended a great event last evening with the keynote speech being given by the Bio-Tech entrepreneur Professor Sir Christopher Evans OBE. He's an inspirational character with his drive and energy being readily apparent from the moment he started. If you've not heard of him then look him up.

Famous Leaders - 25 Biographies You Must Read

This is an interesting blog post from online classes. It suggests 25 biographers that must be read. They include Churchill, Shackleton, Martin Luther King, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela and more. Certainly a varied list but the interesting question is who would be on yours!

BIll Gates Versus General Motors

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,

'If General Motors (GM) had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving £25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.'

In response to Bill ' s comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash.........Twice a day.

2.. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3... Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single 'This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation' warning light.

I love the next one!!!

7. The airbag system would ask 'Are you sure?' before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the 'Start' button to turn the engine off.

PS - I'd like to add that when all else fails, you could call 'customer service' in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!!!!

Motivational Video with Famous Quotes

This is a  motivational video with famous quotes. Enjoy.

For more information on management training and persoanl development visit Call of the Wild's website

Call of the Wild Client Survey 2007

Call of the Wild have just compiled the results of their 2007 client survey research. The results are extremely pleasing and have again improved on those from 2006.

Overall quality of  our products, on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being very satisfied, were rated 4.1, very satisfied. Similarly with the quality of the overall customer service which was rated by our clients at 4.1, very satisfied.

In assessing what services our clients bought from us in 2007 33% bought team development , 33% leadership development, 11% corporate events and 5% our development academy.

As to where our clients found us 17% said it was via a referral. In answer to the question “How likely would they be to recommend our services to friends and colleagues” 64% were likely, 17% neutral and encouragingly only a small 5% wouldn’t.

The Basics of Management Exercise

We have a number of knowledge based exercises on our development academy website for online learning. This is an example .

This is a True/False exercise about the basics of motivation, discipline, management style, performance management, objectives and feedback.

1.The reason many people perform unsatisfactorily is that they fear failure.	Select: True False
2	Unsatisfactory performance should be closely monitored and documented.	Select: True False
3	There really aren't many unsatisfactory employees - but quite a few unsatisfactory managers.	Select: True False
4	One of the main reasons people become dissatisfied with their job is that they fail at it.	Select: True False
5	The best way to change unsatisfactory behaviour is to confront people with it.	Select: True False
6	If you don't like your boss, you can never be effective in your job.	Select: True False
7	The vast majority of unsatisfactory performance is caused by individuals not knowing what is expected of them.	Select: True False
8	Many managers, having once formed an opinion about an employee, are unlikely to change their mind.	Select: True False
9	Unsatisfactory performance is often the result of a lack of training.	Select: True False
10	Unsatisfactory performers should be asked to write down what they see themselves responsible for.	Select: True False
11	One of the most important questions to ask when reviewing performance is, "How do you use your time?"	Select: True False
12	A set of agreed objectives is like a contract between a manager and a subordinate.	Select: True False
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Ian Bell

Ian Bell is the latest addition to the Call of the Wild team. Ian offers invaluable experience from the sales environemnt. Ian graduated from Durham University and taught Geography and Physical Education prior to Joining Xerox to begin a career in Sales. He worked in both Sales and Sales Management roles for 15 years before taking over national responsibility for the development of Sales Management Training and European Sales Training at Xerox.

Ian is currently a member of the team developing and delivering the Ashridge Sports Business Initiative. He also coaches and develops world class sports coaches and runs programmes that combine the passion of sport with the theory of business.

Ian played rugby at representative level and for Wasps for 10 years prior to getting involved in coaching sports teams and individuals. Ian is married has 2 children and lives near Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire.

10 Ways TO Start A Buisness

1. The idea is paramount

2. Surround yourself with people you trust

3....but not necessarily your friends

4. Get the best professional advice you can afford

5. Don't leap until you are ready

6. Pare your start-up costs to the bone

7. Be ready to work harder than you ever have

8. Be flexible to move with the market

9.Cling on to equity for as long as possible

10. The idea is paramount.

Good luck

Creative leadership with Wharton

'How do you lead an increasingly diverse, creative and eclectic workforce? It's a question that senior executives at this month's Wharton West Leadership Conference tried to answer based on their own leadership experiences.' To read on visit the site